In this article we analyse how board characteristics influence firm innovation. Firm innovation refers to basic innovation and entrepreneurial activities internal to a firm, such as the firm emphasis on new product development, innovation technology, and RandD investments. Drawing on agency theory, we developed hypotheses on specific board structural characteristics - i.e., board size, outsider ratio, directors’ shareholdings, and CEO duality - and firm innovation. We tested our model on a sample of 301 large manufacturing Italian companies. We find support for our argument that – contrary to predictions of agency theory on CEO ownership - directors’ shareholdings negatively influence firm propensity to innovate. Our results also suggest that board size may play a role in shaping firm propensity toward innovation.

Boards of Directors and Firm Innovation: an Empirical Analysis on Large Italian Companies

ZONA, FABIO;MINICHILLI, ALESSANDRO;ZATTONI, ALESSANDRO
2009

Abstract

In this article we analyse how board characteristics influence firm innovation. Firm innovation refers to basic innovation and entrepreneurial activities internal to a firm, such as the firm emphasis on new product development, innovation technology, and RandD investments. Drawing on agency theory, we developed hypotheses on specific board structural characteristics - i.e., board size, outsider ratio, directors’ shareholdings, and CEO duality - and firm innovation. We tested our model on a sample of 301 large manufacturing Italian companies. We find support for our argument that – contrary to predictions of agency theory on CEO ownership - directors’ shareholdings negatively influence firm propensity to innovate. Our results also suggest that board size may play a role in shaping firm propensity toward innovation.
2009
9780415437424
M. Huse
The Value Creating Board. Corporate Governance and Organizational Behaviour
Zona, Fabio; Minichilli, Alessandro; Zattoni, Alessandro
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11565/223791
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